Should Heat take on final year of Carmelo Anthony’s large contract to shed future money?

Oklahoma City Thunder forward Carmelo Anthony shouts to his team during Game 3 of their first-round playoff series against the Utah Jazz. (AP Photo/Rick Bowmer)

Oklahoma City’s vision of a Super Team was a flop and now the Thunder are looking at a tumultuous summer after being eliminated in six games by the Jazz in the first round of the playoffs.

Russell Westbrook’s five-year, $205 million extension is ready to kick in and the 2016-17 MVP likely is not going anywhere. But the same cannot be said about any of the Thunder’s other stars, and even coach Billy Donovan, whose job could be in jeopardy.

Paul George is entering free agency and his future in OKC is uncertain. But whether George stays or ends up in Los Angeles, the Thunder are stuck with the aging Carmelo Anthony. OKC would like nothing more than for Anthony to decline his player option but someone who turns 34 in a month and is coming off the worst season of his career is not going to turn down $27.9 million.

So then what?

If Anthony remains expect the Thunder to attempt to buy out his deal, similar to what the Bulls did with Dwyane Wade last summer. But, first, OKC may try to get something in return and this is where the Miami Heat could come in.

Miami has its issues with the cap and could be a trade partner for the Thunder. The Heat, though, likely would have to shed long term money to make it worth paying nearly $30 million for one year of a fading star.

With center Steven Adams under contract for three more years and $77.5 million, unless this turns into a blockbuster, including Hassan Whiteside ($25.4 million next season, $27.1 million in 2019-20) in a deal could be difficult.

More realistic would be Miami packaging two contracts, say James Johnson ($14.4 million next season, three years total remaining) and Tyler Johnson ($19.2 million each of the next two years) and take back an additional cheaper contract to make the deal work.

The Thunder, who, like the Heat, already are significantly over the cap next season, would then get two players they could plug in around Westbrook, with James Johnson as their starting power forward and Tyler coming off the bench.

The Heat would get a player with one season left but even in that one year Anthony would probably be their leading scorer. Anthony averaged 22.4 points two seasons ago in New York and believes he has something left. He said as much following the playoffs when he went on a rant on how he was used this season and on his future, most notably telling reporters he was not going to “sacrifice” and come off the bench. “So that’s out of the question,” he said.

“I think everybody knows I’ve sacrificed damn near everything and was willing to sacrifice nearly everything for this situation to work out,” he said. “It wasn’t no strategy to me being here, me being a part of the actual system and what type of player and things like that.

“As far as being effective as that type of player, I don’t think I can be effective as that type of player. I think I was willing to accept that challenge in that role, but I think I bring a little bit more to the game as far as being more knowledgeable and what I still can do as a basketball player.”

Unless Pat Riley has other deals in mind that would make the Heat an instant contender, this would be more about the future while keeping Miami somewhat competitive next season. And, with Wade and Anthony being close, perhaps the thought of playing alongside Anthony would help keep Wade around another year.

Now, if the Heat and Thunder really want to make a splash then they could pull off the mega-deal with the Heat shipping James Johnson, Tyler Johnson and Whiteside to OKC for Anthony and Adams.

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[…] Chili' James Top 10 Spicy' Plays of Career! NBA Chilliciously' KING-alicious Mix! Should Heat take on final year of Carmelo Anthony's large contract to shed future money? Syfy's 'The Purge' TV Adaptation Casts Three More Series Regulars GOP Senate […]

[…] Chili' James Top 10 Spicy' Plays of Career! NBA Chilliciously' KING-alicious Mix! Should Heat take on final year of Carmelo Anthony's large contract to shed future money? Syfy's 'The Purge' TV Adaptation Casts Three More Series Regulars GOP Senate […]

[…] Chili' James Top 10 Spicy' Plays of Career! NBA Chilliciously' KING-alicious Mix! Should Heat take on final year of Carmelo Anthony's large contract to shed future money? Syfy's 'The Purge' TV Adaptation Casts Three More Series Regulars GOP Senate […]

[…] Chili' James Top 10 Spicy' Plays of Career! NBA Chilliciously' KING-alicious Mix! Should Heat take on final year of Carmelo Anthony's large contract to shed future money? Syfy's 'The Purge' TV Adaptation Casts Three More Series Regulars GOP Senate […]

[…] for next season. Expect him to opt in to that deal as a 34-year-old who seems to be on the decline. Oklahoma City could try to trade the 10-time All-Star, but it’s going to be really hard to include his pricey contract in a deal. The Thunder and […]